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Topic Review (Newest First)

06-29-2010 02:34 PM

thorrad

Oh I forgot to mention, I also have a Mac Mini connected to the system. That way we have internet and Netflix etc. It really helps when you don't want to run to the video store. (Of course it helps to have ClearWire in my area. That won't work everywhere...)

06-29-2010 02:32 PM

thorrad

The wife and I have a great 1080i Vizio 32" monitor that we got at Costco right before we dumped our membership (How can you shop at costco when you live on a boat? I can't get 100 rolls of TP down the companionway hatch!) It was like $575. We don't have the 5.1 system though. On our Catalina, we just didn't want to run all the wiring for rear speakers, but there are those who would find it no problem. We did lead the stereo outs to a pair of great Bose speakers that were originally used for a computer. They are small and efficient and can blow us out of the boat when we crank it up!

We love the setup. We have our setee constantly in the down position so it is just a giant couch and the screen is on the Starboard wall. Everyone gets to watch movies in the evening while we are on the dock, which so far is always. I know that when we cruise we won't have the TV and I bet the kids don't know that yet, but that is why you go cruising, to get away. The rest of the time though we have a great entertainment center. Some of the newer flat screens work great so just look for the best of what you can afford.

Good luck.

06-28-2010 09:26 PM

utchuckd

How about putting your projector on a mount you can set up on the transom and project onto the mainsail. You would have your own drive-in movie!

04-17-2010 11:16 PM

Erwan88

Swivel in the bulkhead

I was recently in a yacht where hey had mounted an iMac 24 into the bulkhead and could swivel it within the large port between the dining area and the bedroom. While seated at the table you could work on stuff or swivel it around to the bedroom and watch movies while laying down. When not in use it could be lowered into the bulkhead. I thought it was shear genius. The computer could remain very protected from the elements while underway and then when on the hook simply rose up on demand. I'd copy and paste the link but I've been lurking w/out posting for a long time and therefore cannot. I'd love to mimic this one day as it suits our needs as well. Keep in mind the Kauana (our inspiration) cruises over half the year long. Love it!

04-17-2010 03:20 PM

nogin

Quote:

Originally Posted by bljones

Do you slowly cruise through the mooring field bumping hip-hop, all lounged out in the cockpit drinking 40s?

Now that's funny right there!!

04-16-2010 01:54 PM

garymcg

Blu-ray playback on a PC can be solved by using Cyberlink PowerDVD software. It updates over the internet to handle the newest blu-ray disks, I've never encountered a disk I couldn't play. That and Arcsoft are basically the only 2 pieces of software that work correctly.
Of course you need an HDCP compliant connection for blu-ray like HDMI. You can also use SlySoft AnyDVD HD which will decode the content protection on a blu-ray disk and play it over a VGA connection. You can also use it to rip blu-ray images to a hard drive for later playback if you have the space. Each rip is about 45GB. The AnyDVD software also automatically updates over the internet.
Newer projectors, especially the LCD models, don't really need to be used in a completely dark environment, they get brighter with every generation. Optimal viewing distance is 1.5 times the horizontal dimension of the screen, figure out your screen size from this based on your viewing distance then make sure the projector can throw that size image from your mounting location.
On our boat we use an LCD monitor. I have a mount where the swivel arm stays permanently attached to the monitor and slides into a bulkhead mounted bracket. We have a 15 inch monitor that swings into the companionway for use as a chartplotter, and a 24 inch 1080p monitor with the same bracket that can be swapped in and swings into the cabin to watch movies. Any monitor with an external power brick generally runs on 12v power, you can just wire it directly in to your DC panel.

04-16-2010 01:01 PM

remetau

Quote:

Originally Posted by bljones

Do you slowly cruise through the mooring field bumping hip-hop, all lounged out in the cockpit drinking 40s?

LOL!!!!

Actually the sub is great for movies.

04-16-2010 12:50 PM

bljones

Quote:

Originally Posted by remetau

Connected to our stereo I use a Bazooka sub and 4 Polk mid range speakers and 4 Polk tweeters. This gives us great stereo sound.

Do you slowly cruise through the mooring field bumping hip-hop, all lounged out in the cockpit drinking 40s?

04-16-2010 11:38 AM

remetau

We live on our 33’ sailboat and spend at least half a year at anchor or on moorings. Although I don’t have a Blu-Ray, I do enjoy watching movies on our system. We have two TVs, a 22” LCD in the Salon and a 13” LCD in the berth. We ripped all our DVDs (over 400 of them) to AVI files and play them using a Brite-View 1080P HD player in the Salon and a Netgear media player in the berth. We connect our USB hard drives to the media players. For sound, I use RCA cables connected to our Aquatic AV auxiliary input. I use the Aquatic AV because of the IPod control and the RF remote. Connected to our stereo I use a Bazooka sub and 4 Polk mid range speakers and 4 Polk tweeters. This gives us great stereo sound.

03-22-2010 06:37 AM

tomwatt

Issues with PC/laptops and Blu-Ray DRM playback! I dropped an extra pile of buck$ in my laptop purchase (HP Mobile Workstation) to get a Blu-Ray writer/player... only to discover that there are now licensing issues with playback software (both Nero and Intervideo). It seems that there are no upgrades available to play many "new featured" discs. So if I were in your shoes, I would likely just grab the low-end Panasonic and be done.
(my home theater has a nice Sony BR player, but that's a different story).

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